Frontiers in stimuli-responsive nanoplatforms: pioneering drug delivery in nanobiotechnology

Prof. Juan C. Cruz and Prof. Luis H. Reyes introduce the Nanoscale Advances themed issue on Frontiers in Stimuli-Responsive Nanoplatforms: Pioneering Drug Delivery in Nanobiotechnology.

Luis H. Reyes is an associate professor at Universidad de Los Andes (Bogotá, Colombia) and director of the Product and Process Design Group.Reyes is a chemical engineer (Universidad Industrial de Santander, Colombia) with a PhD in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University (College Station, TX, USA).His research interest focuses on applying biological engineering to design and develop bioprocesses and bioproducts using various tools borrowed from the natural sciences, such as molecular and synthetic biology, reverse engineering of microorganisms, laboratory adaptive evolution, and microbiology.He teams with an interdisciplinary research group in the biomedical engineering area to develop bionanoconjugated vehicles to transport and deliver biological molecules with therapeutic potential, including gene and enzyme replacement therapies.He also works in the discovery and production of peptides with applications in the medical, food, and petrochemical industries.In food engineering, Reyes studies the sensory design of beer and the protein replacement of dairy products.

Nanoscale Advances
EDITORIAL nanobiotechnology revolutionizes medicine by allowing accurate targeting and timing of therapeutic interventions.These adaptable systems react to specic stimuli-whether they are biological, pharmacological, or physical-ensuring targeted, regulated, and patient-focused drug delivery.This collection presents groundbreaking research in various elds, ranging from overcoming neurological obstacles through the use of advanced vector technologies to improving the effectiveness of photothermal cancer treatments utilizing customized nanoparticles.
Prominent features of the collection include pioneering research, such as the creation of dual-color core-shell silica nanosystems by Ramirez-Morales et al., which provide potential advancements in super-resolution biomedical imaging (https://doi.org/10.1039/D3NA00310H).This technique incorporates uorescent nanoparticles that have the potential to completely transform diagnostic procedures and allow for the continuous monitoring of biological activities at levels that have never been achieved before.The researchers successfully produced dual-color uorescent coreshell silicon dioxide nanoparticles using a two-cycle Stöber process.They further enhanced the colloidal stability of the nanoparticles by functionalizing them with biotin.The nanosystems underwent thorough analysis utilizing a range of analytical and sophisticated microscopy techniques, which uncovered their promise as versatile instruments for uorescence optical nanoscopy and biological applications.
In the insightful study "light-initiated aggregation of gold nanoparticles for synergistic chemo-photothermal tumor therapy", presented by Xia et al., the researchers explore a novel therapeutic strategy integrating chemotherapy with photothermal therapy using lightresponsive gold nanoparticles.These nanoparticles are designed to aggregate when exposed to laser light, signicantly enhancing the localized delivery and effectiveness of the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin.The controlled aggregation at the tumor site ensures precise drug release and amplies the photothermal effect, resulting in notably improved tumor reduction.This innovative approach highlights the transformative potential of combining advanced nanoparticle engineering with targeted cancer treatment strategies, setting a new benchmark for synergistic cancer therapies.
The thematic issue also explores the complexities of gene delivery systems that specically target the central nervous system.Gao discusses techniques to overcome the challenging blood-brain barrier using advanced vector technologies and remote-control technologies to regulate the extracellular space (https:// doi.org/10.1039/D3NA01125A).
The review examines the impact of the extracellular space on the movement of drugs and emphasizes the importance of using remote-control technology to aid in crossing the blood-brain barrier.In addition, the author explores the most recent developments in delivering therapeutic gene editing directly to the central nervous system (CNS) tissue.The author also examines the inuence of articial intelligence, machine learning, ultrasmall so endovascular robots, and highresolution endovascular cameras on enhancing gene delivery to the CNS.
Singh et al. conduct a comprehensive analysis of MCM-41 derived berberineloaded porous silica nanoparticles, with a specic emphasis on their ability to hinder the apoptotic process in neuronal cells (https://doi.org/10.1039/D3NA01142A).The authors utilize a modied Stöber approach to create nanoparticles that have uniform size and contain a large amount of medication with excellent efficiency in trapping it.The study demonstrates that nanoparticles have the capacity to enhance mitochondrial health, revive cellular viability, and inhibit the apoptotic process in SH-SY-5Y cells.This research provides crucial information on the production and potential of nanoparticles as an effective therapeutic intervention for illnesses related to apoptosis.
The collection also examines the engineering elements of nanoparticle design, with Riahi et al. investigating the impact of surfactant ratios on the production of single-core iron-based nanoparticles for magnetic hyperthermia and their absorption by endothelial cells (https://doi.org/10.1039/D3NA00540B).The authors illustrate that the simultaneous utilization of oleic acid and oleylamine as surfactants leads to a signicant saturation magnetization and improved heating rate for magnetic uid hyperthermia.The process of modifying the oleic acid-coated nanoparticles with trimethoxysilane results in the creation of a core-shell structure that displays exchange bias.The effective absorption of these nanoparticles by human umbilical vein endothelial cells demonstrates their potential for use in biomedical applications.Vergaro et al. utilize chemical synthesis and nanotechnology to develop a versatile platinum drug delivery system using a unique metal complex containing the bioactive compound curcumin (https://doi.org/10.1039/D3NA00200D).This method exhibits enhanced bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy.The authors utilize ultrasonication in conjunction with layer-by-layer technology to create nanocolloids that possess advantageous characteristics like excellent biocompatibility, increased solubility in water-based solutions, stability, high drug capacity, and improved biological effectiveness compared to the unbound drug.The study demonstrates the potential of this technique in altering the bioavailability of platinum-based medicines and enhancing their therapeutic efficacy in terms of both cytotoxic and antimetastasis effects.
Basaran et al. conducted a study on the pH-dependency of DC-SIGN/R multivalent lectin-glycan interactions utilizing polyvalent glycan-gold nanoparticles (https://doi.org/10.1039/D3NA01013A).Their ndings revealed unique pHdependent binding behaviors and their possible signicance in virus binding and release processes.Jirát-Ziółkowska et al. present evidence of the extended in vivo degradation of injectable polymer implants that are responsive to changes in temperature and pH (https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NA00212A).These implants can be traced using 19 F magnetic resonance imaging, providing a promising platform for long-term localized theranostics.Tricase et al.

Editorial
Nanoscale Advances describe the creation of bionanoreactors based on apoferritin, which are activated by bioelectrochemical means (https:// doi.org/10.1039/D3NA01046E).These bionanoreactors are used for the synthesis and monitoring of CdSe nanoparticles, and they incorporate leaky waveguides.
The study demonstrates a unique method for producing semiconductor nanoparticles of specic sizes by utilizing a proteinbased bionanoreactor that is activated by pH changes at the interface between the electrode and solution.
In addition, the collection includes a compelling study conducted by Gamal et al., which examines the effectiveness of photothermal therapy aided by gold nanorods in treating breast tumors in adult female rats (https://doi.org/10.1039/D3NA00595J).
The authors utilize a rat model that is induced with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) to evaluate the effectiveness of a therapeutic technique that combines polyvinylpyrrolidone-capped gold nanorods and near-infrared laser irradiation.The work reveals the groundbreaking impact of this photothermal therapy method in specically eliminating breast cancer cells, providing a hopeful pathway for future cancer treatments.
The collection provides a complete overview of the current state and future possibilities of stimuli-responsive nanoplatforms by combining various studies.It emphasizes both the achievements of individuals and the collective endeavors of the worldwide research community, whose commitment to advancing the boundaries of scientic potential ensures a future when nanotechnology-based treatments are widespread.
This editorial collection serves as a repository of knowledge and a source of inspiration to drive further innovation and encourage interdisciplinary collaborations.These collaborations are essential for the advancement of these technologies into clinically relevant solutions as we progress in our research and development.
The research described in this work not only enhances our comprehension of the underlying principles that regulate stimuliresponsive nanoplatforms, but also offer practical knowledge regarding their design, synthesis, and application in different biomedical scenarios.
We extend our utmost appreciation to all authors for their exceptional contributions, the anonymous reviewers for their valuable time and expertise in assessing the submissions, and the editorial staff at Nanoscale Advances, particularly Dr Hannah Kerr, for their guidance and support during the preparation of this issue.Their combined endeavors have played a crucial role in moulding this compilation into a signicant asset for the scholarly community.
Essentially, "Frontiers in Stimuli-Responsive Nanoplatforms" serves as both a demonstration of scientic quality and a guiding force in the pursuit of advanced, effective, and precise drug delivery systems.We encourage readers to fully engage with this collection, as we are condent that it will provide valuable insights and stimulate new avenues of study and partnerships that will continue to advance the eld of nanobiotechnology.In this pivotal moment of advancing therapeutic interventions, this compilation acts as a guiding light, shedding light on the direction towards a future when tailored, accurate, and patient-focused treatments are not merely a potentiality, but an actuality.